All our 2021/22 postgraduate (taught) courses for have now closed to new applications. At this stage you can apply to start a course with us in September 2022. Please check our coursefinder to find the course you are interested in.

Our applicants do occasionally decide to defer, and we have a standard process for considering deferral requests. People choose to defer for a wide variety of reasons, and we hope that you will consider all the facts before making this important decision.

If you think you won’t be able to meet your offer requirements with certificated degree results, please contact the Admissions team, using the email address on your offer letter, to discuss alternative options. If you’re able to provide evidence of attendance and transcripts, showing an average GPA in line with your offer requirements, we may be able to make special arrangements for you. All transcripts and proof of attendance will be reviewed on a case by case basis by the Admissions team, and decisions will be made in accordance with the university’s policy, alongside UKVI VISA requirements where applicable.

For the academic year 2022/23 we will be in classrooms, labs, performance spaces and studios in person. In addition, we’ve listened to our students and taken the best parts of online learning and applied them to our curriculum. This means you’ll get the in-person teaching and learning support that will help you succeed in your studies, combined with the benefits of some online access. We will make it clear to you when you need to attend in person, when you should join online and when you can download and watch again.

Whether you’re commuting or living on campus, we’ve expanded the number and type of study spaces available for you to use between classes or to take part in online activity. These include individual and group spaces in the library as well as more casual spaces in our cafés, bars and in the Students’ Union.

For the academic year 2022/23 we will be in our classrooms, labs, performance spaces, and studios for in person teaching. In addition, we’ve listened to our students and also taken the best parts of online learning and applied them to our curriculum to create more accessible content and activities. Most of all, it means you’ll get the in-person teaching and learning support that will help you succeed in your studies, combined with the benefits of some online access.

Should the situation change (such as new legal restrictions), we’re prepared, and can support you and your learning. If your circumstances mean that you are not able to start your course face-to-face, on campus, for example because of travel restrictions, it is important that you let us know so that we can advise you.

The UK Government has updated its guidance on the wearing of face coverings. This means that, at present, we do not expect to require face coverings to be worn on campus in 2022/23. We do however, recognise that some students, staff or visitors may choose to wear a face covering and we will support you in that choice.

The pandemic has made life unpredictable and we cannot anticipate any further measures the UK Government might introduce to manage any changes in infection rates or the impact of those infection rates. We will keep our guidance under review to reflect this. Our priority, as it has been throughout the pandemic, is to play our part in helping to manage the impact of Covid-19 across our community.

At present, we do not expect social distancing measures to be in place for the academic year 2022/23. However, the pandemic has made life unpredictable and we will keep arrangements under review, in the light of any changes in infection rates.

The UK Government is keeping travel restrictions under regular review. At present, there is no requirement to quarantine/self-isolate on arrival in England* but if you are not fully vaccinated, you will be required take Covid-19 tests before and immediately after your arrival in England. Please check the UK Government’s current travel guidance for further updates.

*Based on information available to us now (22 April 2022)

We strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to receive a Covid-19 vaccination to be vaccinated. At this time (22 April 2022) the UK Government has not made the Covid-19 vaccination mandatory but, if you are not fully vaccinated, you will be expected to take Covid-19 tests immediately before and after arrival in the UK. If, when you arrive on campus, you have not yet been vaccinated (or have only received the first of two vaccinations), we expect to be able to support you to achieve this. You will find more information about vaccinations on the UK Government website.

The UK Home Office has published Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for visa applicants where you can find answers to most of your questions. Click here to see the full guidance for international students. You can also contact our International Student Support Office.

To apply for a Student visa, you will need a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), which will be valid for a period of six months from the date of issue.

If you know that you will be able to travel to the UK in September 2022 and have firmly accepted an unconditional offer, please request your CAS as soon as possible.

We may need up to a month to process a CAS request and you will also need to allow time for your visa application to be processed. We are aware that ongoing uncertainty about travel restrictions means that international students from some countries may be worried about their ability to travel to the UK prior to the start of teaching. If you are in this situation, we suggest that you delay your CAS request until your travel plan is clearer. To meet UKVI requirements, your CAS will be issued with a latest arrival date of 30 September. If you are concerned that travel restrictions may prevent you from travelling to the UK before this date, please speak to our Admissions team for advice.

If you have questions about CAS issue, please contact our Admissions team by phone: +44 (0)1784 414944, or email our international student recruitment team.

For postgraduate courses starting in September 2022, there is no formal deposit deadline. However, if you are an international student and need a visa to come to the UK, you will need to ask us to issue a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). We are not able to issue your CAS until we have received your deposit. Please remember that we may need up to a month to process a CAS request and you will also need to allow time for your visa application to be processed

You may be worried about paying your deposit because of uncertainties around world travel. Don't worry - if you are later unable to take up your place at Royal Holloway, for reasons relating to the coronavirus outbreak, we will refund your deposit. If you find yourself in this situation, you will need to email our Admissions and Applicant Services team to request a refund. Please note that requests must be made within 30 days of the official start date of your course.

Full details of the English language tests which we currently accept and the specific scores you need to achieve to meet the conditions of your offer can be found on this page. If you are unable to access any of the approved tests because of ongoing Covid-related restrictions, please contact our Admissions and Applicant Services team for advice.